Mechanical movement



April l, 1941. v. v. KUNKEL, 2,236,756

MECHANICAL MCVEMENT Filed Oct. 26, 1940 3 Sheets-ShamI 2 )Il 'Il 57 /27vez 07;

April l, 1941., v. v. KUNKEL 2,236,756

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Oct. 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wyk. 7d., 40

/Pwen i973 ZZA/202 /feZf Patented Apr. l, 1941 lTED STATE-S PATENTOFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention is a mechanical movement and has to do with machinery,apparatus or mechanical adaptations which include a descendible devicewhich it is desirable may be arrested during its downward movement andwithout appreciable rebound.

This application is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No.210,394, led May 27, 1,938.

Further, an object is to provide a gravity or otherwise motivateddescendible device, for convenience here called the descender, which maynot only be arrested suddenly in descent without apparent rebound, butin cases where the` descender is gravity actuated its rate of descentlis automatically controlled. In this connection it is an object toprovide a control means for the descender which is itself motivated bythe falling descender, and additionally to providein one unit orassembly means to perform both the function of speed control or dampingand of rebound elimination.

Carrying the invention, an object is to provide a mechanism in which asingle element is utilized for the accomplishment of the dual functionof damping of speed and negation of rebound.

In adapting the invention to a useful purpose, it is an object toprovide a descender control for efficiently operating under variousloads that may be imposed on the descender. In this aspect it is afurther object to'provide a motorless, self-acting and self-dischargingmachine whereby to successfully, successively dispense objects,articles, products of any desired nature from a storage and displaycompartment, and to provide a suitable control means, preferablyincluding a device controlled by a selected, given coin or token whichwill constitute a proper connection to electuate the dispensingoperation of the machine; a noticeable object of the machineV conceptbeing to provide a highly practicable, reliable, capacious, low-coststructure of the utmost simplicity for the above designated purposes.Also, an object is to provide a machine of this type which issubstantial, Whose functional operation is initiated in a simple anddirect manner, and in which is embodied a casing ofY small floorarea andsmall depth from front to rear.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forthin the ensuing disclosure and having with the above, additional objectsand advantages as hereinafter developed, and Whose construction,combination, and details ofmeans, andr themanner of operation .will bemade manifestin the description of the herewith illustrated embodiment;it being understood that modifications, variations and` adaptations maybe resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit. of the inventionas it is more directly claimed hereinbelow. It is, understood that thefunctional use of themechanical movement of this invention in anys otherart than that herein exhibited is deemed `to be within the adaptationand scopethereof.

Figure l is a broken-away, front elevation of the casing of the machine;showing two full descender racks, a half-discharged rack' and a part ofa discharged, lowered or concealed rack below its relative, now empty,show window.

Figure. 2 is ai side elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is aside elevation. of the mechanical movement iny its normalrest position; partv of the casing being a vertical section from frontto rear.

Figure 4 is atop plarrof the movement.

Figure 5 is a frontal elevation of the movement of Fig. 3:

Figure-,6 isa detail plan of the gear train of the speedv and reboundcontrol unit.

Figure 7 isV side elevation of the coin or oonnector controlled stockdischarging, descender release device.

Figure 8 isv a sectionalelevation of the brake clutch. f

Figure `9 is an elevation, partly sectionedof the descender fallstopineffective position, andfFigure 10 is a top planfthereof and showingthe release leverin section;

In its illustrated adaptation the movement is incorporated ini a machinedesigned and constructed for` successively dispensing pieces of fruitsuchas whole apples, oranges, grapefruit, pears, avocados, pomegranates,or various other articles of commerce as may be conveniently marketed.from.. token controlled machines;

Indeed the invention hasa great rangeof use in self-service stores wherethe installation of the desired, stockA in machinesof this kind wouldgreatlyreduce loss by theft, would elimina-tev requirements for cashiersother than for the purpose` ofmaking change. or for selling suitabletokens for use in the machines, and Would-expedite the service ofpatrons.

The machineis designed to contain in a -plurality. of descenders 2, Fig.1, a variety of spe@ cies of applesv A, andora-ng-esfO, and pea-rs; forinstance, if available andin-season, allfatthe same time in the onemachine so thatthepatron may, have his` or her. choice: ofthe: kindvofffruit.

In order,` to, make themachineacceptable for installation 4innarrowfhalls and lobbies andfrailway or boat stations the presentmachine has a plurality of descenders 2 with the relative control meansall arranged side by side in a vertical plane so as to occupy as narrowa space on a wall or other situation as possible. In carrying out thisfeature the machine involves a simple shallow casing 3 with asuitablefrontal door 4 to facilitate loading of the several racks 5 of eachdescender 2. The upper front of the machine is provided with a suitablewindow system with panes 6 for ready view of the` dispensable stock withwhich the racks are supplied, and the lower front of the machine forms aclosure to conceal the emptied, lower racks of the several descenders asthey pass below the windows.

At a suitable height there is provided a token slot-mouth 1 for eachrack system and also there is provided a rejected coin or slug pocket 8accessible to the depositor.

Any articles dispensed from the racks will be passed to a frontal,centrally located basin I having a back wall II spaced forwardly of abaffle plate I2 having a bottom hole I3 leading to the basin. Fruit orother vended articles passing from the racks fall a short distance to atrough I4 back of the baille I2 and where needed a short fall-break I5is placed to check the drop of the unloaded fruit to the trough I4, allas seen in Fig. 1,

The mechanical movement Each descender 2 consists of an elongate, stiff,preferablyiflat rack-toothed bar vertically, slid- .ably guided in `arigidly mounted column fastened as by bolts 2I to a shelf or projection22 suitably fixed in the casing 3 and closing off the window compartmentfrom the lower, closure compartment back of the front door.

There is a like control mechanism for each descender bar 2 and thefollowing description of one will suffice for all. The bar 2 hasprojecting normal to one side thereof a vertical row of racks or articlesupports 5 each of which consists of a light but substantial ring 24having a supporting pivot 25 fixed and normal to the bar 2 andpermitting tilting of the rack ring from a horizontal position into avertical .plane along and normal to the flat bar 2 for compact packingof the dismounted descender as a unit. The ring 24 is hung off center onits pivot 25 so as to normally rest in the illustrated position when thedescender is installed. A stop lug 26 is fixed on the bar 2 in aposition to stop and hold the ring 24 transverse to the vertical bar 2and help carry the imposed load of stock or fruit as placed on each rackring; these rings being suitably vertically spaced in their row up thebar or descender 2.

The rear side of each rack ring 5 is shown as having an opening 5 toprovide for the ready downward movement of the successive rings 5 past arearwardly and downwardly inclined, unloading chute or disc 21 Joined bya reduced shank 28 to the platform 22, Figs. 3 and 4; the opening 5 ofeach rack ring passing the shank as the ring descends and as the pieceof fruit is deposited on the chute disc 21 to deflect it to a throathole 29 in the platform 22 and thence to the trough I4 and its basin I0.The platform 22 has also an escape hole 30, Fig. 3, for the row of rackrings 5 and the chute disc 21 is fixed concentrically of the hole 30 andof the hole in the rack ring, Fig. 4.

The front, toothed edge of the descender bar 2 is in constant mesh witha small pinion 3|, Fig. 6, which is xed to a larger gear 32 and thismeshes with a smaller pinion 33 fixed on a short shaft 34 whose ends aremounted in the column 2B and an outset bracket 35, whereby to effect arelatively greater speed of rotation of the shaft 34 as to the rate offall of the rack bar 2, and secure the positive drive of the shaft 34 bythe bar without other motivating means and the bar or descender itselfbeing, preferably, only gravity actuated.

Unless under some sort of a control the falling speed of the descenderwould be very objectionable in .an attempt to arrest the descender insuccessive stages for the individual discharge of the pieces orarticles. Also it is essential that a means be provided to eliminateobjectionable rebound of the descending article carrier or descender. Afeature of the present invention is the provision of a single mechanicalelement having the dual capacity of rst acting to control the rate offalling speed of the descender and then to eliminate rebound thereofwhen the descender is instantly arrested in falling movement.

This provision includes a momentum rotor or wheel 36 which isrotatively, that is loosely, mounted on the shaft 34 and is underconstant engagement with a suitable rotational re-actor here in the formof an expansion spring 31, or its functional equivalent, pressing afriction or clutch washer 38 against the near surface, Fig. 5, of thewheel 36 and pressing this wheel endwise on the shaft 34 to an abuttingpart such as the near hub of the pinion 33; the outer end of the springseating on a washer 31', Fig. 5, on the shaft 34.

The spring 31 thus sets up a desired friction clutch action to cause thewheel to turn with the shaft 34 as this is rotated by the gear train3I-32-33 motivated by the effective descender bar 2.

When the load of the descender bar 2 is released to become effective onthe gear train and the wheel 36, as presently described, the inert wheelat once sets up a damping action to impose such a reaction on thedescender as to cause it to fall at any desired speed, loaded or empty.While it is true that the speed of the wheel 36 will graduallyaccelerate if the fall of the descender is uninterrupted. it will beseen that since the descender is arrested in successive steps toindividually unload its vertically spaced articles the movement of thedescender from its topmost position to the lowermost, empty positionwill be in steps each of substantially the same rate of speed, due tothe constant inertia load of the braking wheel 36, irrespective of thedegree of reaction of ythe brake-effect clutch device as between thewheel 36 and the shaft 34 -on which it is turnably mounted under controlof the clutch spring 31.

If the descender 'is suddenly arrested in its descent as by means of astop latch 40, Figs. 3 4, slipping into engagement with one of theevenly spaced stop shoulders 4I provided along the rear edge of thedescender bar 2,l then there is a normal or natural tendency of thedescender to rebound. Since the momentum wheel 36 has been set in rotarymotion through the clutch 31-38 by the descender driven gear train, thewheel has acquired a certain degree of kinetic energy and lby causingthe Wheel'to turn in the proper direction (clockwise in Fig. 3) thisenergy is employed as torque through the brake-effect clutch device tothe now arrested shaft 34 and the gear train back to the toothed rackbar 2 to apply thereto a downward thrust sufficiently higher than therecoil or rebounding tendency of the descender or bar 2 to neutralizeany vertical reverse yor jump motion. Therefore, the momentum wheel 36is heavy enough to kill the rebound of the loaded articles and of thedescender itself,

by inst-ant application of the kinetic energy in the wheel to thearrested descender, for one function, and in another function 'by i-tsinertia the wheel dampens the falling speed of the released descender.

The descender bar itself is designed to automatically control theintermittent stopping thereof by' its associated stop latch 4U; thisbeing constantly pressed by a spring 42 against a cam edge oi thedescender bar 2 which is provided with relief notches 43 subjacent eachstop shoulder 4l therealong so that when the latch 40 rides into eachnotch 43, under spring action, the latch will be in the path of the nextSuperadjacent shoulder to stop bar descent.

In the present disclosure of the invention themachine is rigged forrelease of the stop device or latch 46 from time to time by theinsertion of a proper and machine selected and passed coin or othergiven piece C to serve as a connector in a releasing mechanism for thelatch 49. The given coin is dropped into the desired coin mouth 'l andpasses to a suitable and conventional coin detector D, Fig. 3, fromwhich a rejected piece, coin or token will be diverted to the returnpocket S, Fig. l. The selected or proper coin will pass by a guide 44 tothe open mouth 45 of a bolt 46 which is reciprocative in a housing 41fixed in the casing, and which bolt is normally retracted to an idle orready position by a spring 48 and in which position it is automaticallylocked by suitable means, as a hook 49 under action of a spring 50drawing the nib of the hook into a notch I in the bolt 46.

The proper coin C, Fig. '1, lodges in the bolt mouth 45 in rear of a dogor pin 52 of the hook 49 and, if now, the bolt 46 is pulled forwardly inthe housing 41 by a manual stem 53 extended to the front of the casing3, the hook 49 will be elevated by the coin acting as a connectoragainst the dog 52 and the unlocked bolt 46 can be pulled forwardly tobring pin 46a, fixed on it against the leg of the latch 40 whose upperend or nose will be forced backwardly clear of the imposed shoulder 4lof the bar 2, and the freed descender will at once start its fall, underretardation by the momentum wheel 36, until the next higher of a seriesof lugs 2' projecting from one face of the bar 2 engages the nowinterposed, inclined end or cam face 46 of the bolt 46 and the descenderis stopped until the stem 53 is released and the bolt isI pulled back byits spring 48 with the result that the descender 2 may resume itsfalling motion to a degree to discharge an article onto the chute 21 andthen again be arrested by the automatic latch 4U engaging the next uppershoulder 4l, Fig. 1.

A double action, spring-controlled tumbler 54 acts on a complementarytooth rack 55 on the bottom of the bolt 64 to control and prevent lessthan a full stroke of the bolt in either direction.

When the bolt 46 reaches its full forward stroke to release thelatch 40from the descender 2 va spring 56 on the housing 41 acts to eject thecoin C from the mouth of the bolt so that the utilized coin may fallinto a mloney box 51. When the bolt is retracted by its spring 48 thelatching hook 49 again snaps into the bolt notch 5l to lock the bolt,now again in a position to receive another coin. l

When the racks of each descender 2 are all unloaded a barrier means 58here shown as engageablev by the upper part of a related descender 2will be brought into closing position over the respective coin slotmouth 1 to prevent insertion of another coin. The barrier, isfnormallyheld in open position by a spring 59.l

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical movement, a descender, means to stop its descentinstantly, and a rotary, over-running, rebound check for eliminatingbounce of the arrested descender and including a brake-controlled,descender-motivatedV rotor having, a controlled running function afterthe descender is stopped.

2. In a mechanical movement, a travelling device, means to stop motionthereof instantly, and

a Vmomentum instrument including a braked,

over-running wheel for absorption of recoil reaction of the stoppeddevice to eliminate its reverse rebound and being motivated thereby andthe kinetic energy being applied to the said device to prevent itsrecoil.

3. In a mechanical movement, a travelling device, and a braked, momentuminstrumentactuated thereby and which is operative to dampen the speedo-f the device and to absorbrecoil reaction when the device is arrestedsuddenly; said instrument including a rotary member stored with energyby said device and which member spends said energy in holding saiddevice against a reverse motion after arrest of the device.

4. In a mechanical movement, a travelling device, means to instantlystoptravel thereof in one direction and being under control of Said device,and means including a momentum instru-ment driven by said device tostore energy and for absorbing recoil reaction of the arrested deviceand comprising an over-running rotor acn celeratedly driven by the saiddevice.

5. A machine of the class set forth including a travelling device, meansfor repeatedly, instant-- ly stopping travel of the device in onedirection, and retardation means motivated by said device andconstructed to absorb rebound reaction of the arrested device andincluding a speed accelerated, braked momentum wheel.

6. A machine of the class described including a travelling device, areleasable stop means for repeatedly instantly arresting said device,means operative at will to eiiectively release the stop means to freesaid device, and means driven by said device and including anover-running rotor for its speed retardation and whereby recoil of thearrested Idevice is eliminated.

7. A descendible device which is combined, drives and whose falling`speed is retarded by a braked momentum means; the device and said meansbeing intergeared for motivation of said l means by sai-d device.

8. Mechanism as in claim '1, and in which there is provision forabsorption of recoil reaction of the device by said means if and whenthe device is suddenly arrested.

9. A machine of the class described including a travelling device, areleasable stop means normally holding the device against travel in onedirection, means operative to effect release of the device from the stopmean-s, and retarding means motivated by said device and stopping recoilthereof when arrested by the stop means and including a braked,over-running rotor.

10. A machine of the class described including a gravitating device,stop means normallyholding the device against descent an-d beingcontrolled thereby for repeated action to effect step by step descent ofthe device, means for effecting release ofwthe device from the stopmeans for such step action, and means including a braked, over-runningrotor propellantly combined with the device for retarding rate ofdescent of the device and eliminating its recoil on arrest.

` 11. A machine of the class described including a travelling device, astop means for holding the device against motion in one direction, meansfor effecting action of the stopping means in given steps along thetravelling device, means to effect release of the device from thestopping means, and speed retardation and shock absorbing means combinedwith the said device and including a braked, over-running rotor andaccelerating drive means for the rotor actuated by the said device andthe rotor operative by over-run as to said accelerating means to apply estored energy with a holding effect on said device.

12. A machine as in claim 11, and in which the retardation meansincludes a brake instrument constantly effective to resist rotation ofthe rotor as to the arrested device.

13. A mechanical movement having, in cornbination, a travellingstructure, a momentum rotor, means driven by the said structure torotate the rotor and providing for relative over-- running action of therotor when the structure is arrested, means to arrest the travellingstructure, and said driven means including an acceleration anddeceleration clutch means operative on the rotor.

14. A mechanical movement having, in combination, a gravity actuatedstructure, and means including a momentum Wheel operated by saidstructure to convert the force of gravity into kinetic energy, and aclutch engaging the wheel and actingto brake a reverse motion of thesaid structure.

l5. The movement of claim 14, and said means including a pinion drivenby the said structure and a gear train operated by the pinion andwhereby the speed of rotation of the pinion is accelerated.

16. The movement of claim 14, and said wheel acting as a speedrestrainer of and providing for the application of said stored energy tothe said structure whereby to effect a control of the structure.

17. The movement of claim 14, and the said clutch having constant,effective engagement with the Wheel for control of acceleration of saidstructure in one direction and for stopping a reverse recoil thereof.

18. The movement of claim 14, and said means including a pinion drivingthe clutch and thereby said wheel, and a gear train including a sec- 0ndpinion, driven by said structure, and gears to increase speed ofrotation of the clutch pinion and the wheel as to rotation of the secondpinion during descent of the structure whereby to impose Work on thestructure and decrease its speed and, conversely, when the structure isarrested, to place the shock of its rebound onto the motivated wheel bythe said clutch.

19. The movement of claim 14, and said clutch operative initially onsaid Wheel to retard acceleration of said structure and later todecelerate motion of said Wheel and thereby check recoil of theactuating structure.

VICTOR V. KUNKEL.

